Pumping system or apparatus for deep wells



Jan. 8, 1963 ESAU DA SILVA ROSA 3,072,057

PUMPING SYSTEM OR APPARATUS FOR DEEP WELLS Filed Feb. 29, 1960 3 SheetsShee1: 1

INVENTOR. 540 40 SILVA ROSA ATTORNEYS Jan. 8, 1963 ESAU DA SILVA ROSA 3,072,057

PUMPING SYSTEM OR APPARATUS FOR DEEP WELLS Filed Feb. 29, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 UP /8/ Jan. 8, 1963 ESAU DA SILVA ROSA 7 PUMPING SYSTEM OR APPARATUS FOR DEEP WELLS Filed Feb. 29, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United htates The present invention relates broadly to a pumping system.

. More particularly, the invention relates to a pumping system or apparatus, of the type utilized for pumping liquid from wells and which include means for mixing air with the ascending column of liquid.

Still more specifically, the invention relates to a pumping system or apparatus applicable to pump water admixed with air from deep wells.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a pumping system or apparatus for elevating a column of a liquid air mixture from a well which includes a vacuum pump and means providing a closed circulatory system.

It is a specific object of the invention to provide a combination including a chamber for receiving the air-water mixture from the well and within the upper portion of which the air separates from the water, a water pump associated with the lower portion of said chamber to pump water therefrom, a vacuum pump which includes an inlet communicating with the upper portion of the chamber and an outlet communicating with the pipe through which the rising column flows into the chamber.

It is a still more specific object to provide in association with the features set forth in the preceding object, a conduit extending between the inlet to the vacuum pump and a valve box that is associated with the outlet from the vacuum pump and within which box is a valve normally biased to open position to communicate with atmosphere but operable to be closed when a predetermined vacuum is attained.

Further and more specific objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal section illustrating the casing structure and the two pumps of one form of the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a view partly in vertical section and partly in elevation illustrating the pumping apparatus or system of the invention installed in operative relation to a well,

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view illustrating one form of vacuum pump of the present invention in one position of adjustment as regards its capacity, and

FIGURE 4 is a similar view illustrating the pump of FIGURE 3 with the parts in another position of adjustment.

In the drawing, FIGURE 2, the well is denoted generally at P and includes a cap structure at the top having an opening therein through which is disposed a conduit means or pipe 18 having an open lower end 189 disposed beneath the surface of the water in the well. On the cap structure is carried a casing or chamber denoted generally at C which in the illustrated form comprises two parts, 1 and 2. The upper part 1 is suitably secured to the lower part 2. The upper end 181 of pipe 18 communicates with the upper portion UP of casing or chamber C. To one wall of the lower part of the casing 2 is mounted a centrifugal pump B and to the opposite wall is mounted a vacuum Water ring pump D. The stator parts of these pumps are removably secured to the opposite walls of the casing part 2 and like the casing are made of cast iron or other cast metal.

atent Q f we A shaft 5 extends through the casing and carries the rotors 3 and 4 of the two pumps. A web structure is disposed within the lower part of the casing 2 and is integral with the wall thereof and is formed to provide a tubular portion 7 which receives and supports a portion of shaft 5. A ballbearing structure 6 mounted in the stator of the pump D journals another portion of shaft 5. A conduit 8 extends between an opening in the wall of casing part 2 adjacent pump D to the upper portion of easing part 1. This conduit 8 has an open upper end near the top of casing part 1 and functions as an inlet conduit for the pump D. Another conduit 9 is provided in association with the casing part 2 and functions as an outlet passage for pump D. A baffie It? is provided on the righthand wall of casing part 2, FIGURE 1, to separate the inlet and outlet 8 and 9 of pump D. This baffie plate is shaped as shown in FIG- URES 3 and 4 and includes two arcuate portions 1%, 1i)", a central web and a tubular portion that surrounds the shaft 5. The areuate portion 11') is of substantially greater circumferential extent than the portion 10. The rotor 4 is provided with blades 4 and passages 4 for receiving air from conduit 8 and delivering air to the outlet 9. A cover 11 is mounted on the stator of pump D and a suitable bushing and packing shown generally at 12 is likewise provided around shaft 5. The outlet 9 of the vacuum pump D is connected to one side of a valve box E while a pipe 22 extends between the opposite side of the valve box E to the lower end of pipe 18. The outlet conduit 9, the valve box E and pipe 22 constitute second conduit means establishing communi cation between the outlet of the vacuum pump and the first conduit means 18. Within the valve box E is a rubber diaphragm 19 connected to the stem of a valve 20 and a spring 21 biased between the upper part of the valve box E and the diaphragm 12 normally urges valve 20 to open position. A condiuit or pipe means 23 extends between inlet pipe 8 and the top of valve box E. Within this conduit means 23 is mounted a further valve box or housing F having an end open to atmosphere but which opening 240 is normally closed by a ball valve 24 under the action of spring 25.

A discharge pipe 26 is connected to the outlet of water pump B and a flap valve 27 is associated with the water pump outlet. A priming opening for the vacuum pump is covered by a plug 29 and suitable clip means shown diagrammatically at 28 mount the casing and associated pump structures on the well cap. An electric motor, not shown, is coupled to shaft 5 for driving the latter and thus the rotors of both pumps. B and D.

In the operation of the invention, vacuum pump D is primed by supplying water through the priming inlet, whereafter this inlet is capped by cap or plug 29. The motor is energized and the rotors of both pumps start to turn. The air that is present in the upper part of casing C and in pipe 18 is extracted by the vacuum pump D, with this air being discharged to atmosphere through the opening 200 controlled by valve 20, since spring 21 urges this valve to open position and since these components are associated with valve box E which is downstream of the outlet of the vacuum pump. When a vacuum is attained that is sufficient to overcome the force of spring 21 via the suction efiect exerted through conduit means 23 in valve box E which is a suction chamber, valve 20 is closed. Any air remaining in chamber C and pipe 18 is compressed by the vacuum pump, forced through pipe 22 and becomes admixed with water as it enters the lower part of pipe 18, as indicated by the arrows in FIGURE 2. This results in the formation of a rising column of water and air which has a lower specific gravity than the water per se. The rising column of the mixture enters the upper part of the casing C and the water separated from the air by gravity being withdrawn by pumping means B and delivered through delivery pipe 25. The air separated in the upper portion of casing C is drawn through pipe 8 by pump D and again forced through pipe 22. This cycle provides a closed circulatory system With the same air circulating from the discharge end of the vacuum pump back to the inlet thereof.

It is possible that the ball valve 24 may permit entry of a certain quantity of air but this valve is provided to maintain the best conditions of operation since the opening of valve 24 occurs only when an excessive vacuum exists in chamber C and thus such as is sufficient to overcome the action of spring 25. In other words valve 24 opens in response to a suction eifect that is greater than that required to close valve 20.

FIGURES 3 and 4 illustrate a feature of the invention in which the water-ring pump D is provided with a circular member 13 that is termed a false stator. The member 13 is disposed between the interior of the outer casing or stator of pump D and the external periphery of rotor 4. Oppositely disposed projections 14 and 15 are slidably arranged with relation to sockets formed in the stator or casing of the pump. A hand wheel 16 is supported by the upper socket and carries a threaded spindle 17 associated with internal threads in the upper projection 14 of the ring 13. This ring 13 is a bronze ring and adjusts itself with respect to the inner walls of pump D by means of packings, not shown. By manipulating hand wheel 16, the position of the ring 13 is varied transversely of the axis of pump rotor 4 so as to vary the capacity of this pump. FIGURES 3 and 4 show the ring 13 in two different positions of adjustment.

It is thus clear that in a well in which the water level is variable, the provision of a variable capacity pump as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 is a desirable improvement, since the delivery thereof can be varied in accordance with the length of the path of travel of the rising column of liquid. When the pump is not operating, the valve 2% remains open by means of the spring 21 that operates over the end of the same valve and is connected to the diaphragm 19, which has a free surface similar to the surface of the mentioned valve 20.

So, any pressure existing in the pipes 9 and 22, has no influence in the movements of the valve 20, whose movements are merely originated by the action of the spring 21 and by the depression transmitted by the vacuum pump D through the pipe 23 over the diaphragm 19.

Consequently, when the pump is operating, the valve 26 remains closed and only accidentally opens and closes instantaneously, that is to say, when the depression is excessive in the chamber C and the valve 24 is opened, through which a certain quantity of air is passed in order to re-establish the most convenient depression, but, meanwhile, the valve 29 may permit to escape the minor excess of air entered through the valve 24. So, the valves act alternately, but only from time to time, whilst the level of the water in the well is falling, what makes to increase the depression and, consequently, to open the vale 24.

What is claimed is:

1. A pumping arrangement for deep wells including a first conduit means having a length sufiicient to extend into such a well beneath the water level thereof and having an open end constituting an inlet for water, a casing operably positioned with respect to such a well, said first conduit means having an opposite end communcating with the upper part of said casing, a water pump having an inlet communicating with the lower part of said casing and a discharge outlet, a vacuum pump carried by said casing and having an inlet including a pipe portion terminating in an open end in the upper part of said casing, said vacuum pump having an outlet, at second conduit means extending from the outlet of the vacuum pump and communicating with said first conduit means adjacent the open lower end thereof, a third conduit means having one end in communication with the pipe portion in the upper part of said casing, said third conduit means having an opening therein communicating with atmosphere, a valve means operably associated with said opening for controlling fiow therethrough, means for normally biasing said valve means to closed position, said valve means being operable when open to admit atmospheric air to said third conduit means, a valve box mounted on said second conduit means downstream of the outlet of the vacuum pump, said second conduit means having an opening therein communicating with atmosphere, a suction operated valve for controlling said opening, said suction operated valve being operatively related with said valve box, means normally biasing said suction operated valve to open position and the other end of said third conduit means communicating with said valve box for exerting a suction effect therein to close said suction operated valve, said first valve opening in response to suction effect in the third conduit means that is greater than that necessary to close said suction operated valve whereby with both pumps operating said vacuum pump withdraws air from the upper part of said casing and said first conduit means and discharges the same through said opening controlled by said suction operated valve until suificient vacuum is exerted through said third conduit means to close said suction-operated valve whereupon the air delivered through the outlet of the vacuum pump admixes with water in said first conduit means, the water-air mixture arising and entering the upper part of the casing with the water separating from the air by gravity and being discharged by the water pump and the air entering the open upper end of said pipe portion for passage through said vacuum pump back to said first conduit means.

2. In a pumping arrangement for deep wells, means defining a chamber located adjacent to upper end of such a Well, a pipe communicating at one end with the upper portion of said chamber, having a length sufficient to extend into such a well beneath the water level thereof and having an open end constituting a water inlet, vacuum pump means supported by said chamber and having an inlet including a pipe portion having an open upper end positioned in the upper portion of said chamber, said vacuum pump means having an outlet, conduit means communicating at one end with the outlet of the vacuum pump means and at its other end with said pipe adjacent the open lower end thereof, a first valve means operably associated with said conduit means downstream of the outlet of the vacuum pump means, means normally holding said first valve means in open position, a further conduit having one end in communication with said pipe portion in spaced relation to the open upper end thereof so that suction eifect exerted in said pipe portion by said vacuum pump is also exerted in said further conduit, an air inlet valve means associated with said further conduit, means normally holding said air inlet valve means in closed condition, means operably associated between said further conduit and said first valve means and connected to said first valve means for moving said first valve means to closed position in response to suction eifect exerted in said further conduit, said air inlet valve means opening in response to a suction effect exerted in said further conduit greater than that required to close said first valve means, additional pumping means also carried by the chamber and including an inlet communicating with the lower portion of the chamber and a discharge outlet, said additional pumping means withdrawing water from the lower portion of said chamber whereby a water-air mixture drawn into said chamber by said vacuum pump separates therein with the air being drawn through the vacuum pump for circulation therethrough to said conduit means for passage to said pipe and admixture with the water entering the same, and both said valve means operating automatically to regulate the proportion of air in the mixture.

3. A pumping arrangement as claimed in claim 2 in which the means operably associated between said further conduit and said first \alve means and connected to said first valve means for moving said first valve means to closed position in response to suction efiect exerted in said further conduit comprises a valve box mounted in said conduit means downstream of the outlet of the vacuum pump, a diaphragm extending across said valve box, said first valve means having a portion within said valve box and connected to said diaphragm, and the means normally holding said first valve means in open position comprising a spring means within the valve box and biased between said valve box and diaphragm so as to normally move said first valve means to open position.

4. In a pumping arrangement for deep wells, means defining a chamber, conduit means communicating at one end with the upper portion of said chamber and having sufiicient length to extend into such a well and terminating in an open lower end constituting a water inlet, a vacuum pump means having an inlet including a pipe means having an open end positioned in the upper portion of said chamber, said Vacuum pump means having an outlet, second conduit means establishing communication between the outlet of the vacuum pump and said first conduit means adjacent to the lower open end thereof, said second conduit means having an opening therein for establishing communication with atmosphere, at first valve means operably associated with said open ing for controlling flow therethrough, means normally holding said first valve means in open position, means defining a suction chamber in operable relation with said first valve means, movable means within the chamber connected to said first valve means for moving the same to closed position in response to suction effect in said chamber and for preventing communication between the outlet of the vacuum pump and said suction chamber, third conduit means establishing communication between said suction chamber and the inlet to said vacuum pump in spaced relation to the open end of such inlet and through which suction is exerted in said suction chamber to move said movable means so as to move said first valve means to closed position, additional valve means operably related with said third conduit means for establishing communication with atmosphere, means holding such additional valve means closed to normally prevent communication with atmosphere, such additional valve means being adapted to open in response to a suction eflfect exerted in said third conduit means by said vacuum pump that is greater than that required to close said first valve means and a further pump including an inlet communicating with the lower portion of the chamber and a discharge outlet whereby with both pumps operating an air water mixture is established in the first conduit means, drawn into the upper end of the chamber for separation therein so that the Water can be discharged and the air circulated back to said first conduit means with both said valve means operating automatically to regulate the proportion of air in the mixture.

5. A pumping arrangement as claimed in claim 1 in which said vacuum pump is a variable capacity pump.

6. A pumping arrangement as claimed in claim 1 and a shaft extending transversely through said casing, said casing including opposite walls, said water pump including a stator mounted on one of said walls, said vacuum pump including a stator mounted on the opposite wall, each pump including a rotor within the respective stators and both said rotors being mounted on said shaft.

7. A pumping arrangement as claimed in claim 6 and further including a ring member disposed between the rotor and stator of the vacuum pump and means for shifting said ring member transversely of the axis of said shaft to vary the capacity of the vacuum pump.

' 8. A pumping arrangement as claimed in claim 1 and a shaft extending transversely through said casing, said casing including opposite walls, said water pump including a stator mounted on one of said walls, said vacuum pump including a stator mounted on the opposite wall, each pump including a rotor within the respective stators and a tubular member integral with that casing wall adjacent the water pump for supporting a portion of said shaft.

9. A pumping arrangement as claimed in claim 4 in which both said pumps are rotatry pumps, said chamber including opposite walls, said pumps being mounted on said Walls and a common drive shaft for the pumps extending through said chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 45,153 Gunning Nov. 22, 1864 753,045 Cooper Feb. 23, 1904 1,099,596 Goss June 9, 1914 1,410,228 Stuck Mar. 21, 19:22 1,731,688 Stuck Oct. 15, 1925 2,015,938 Humason Oct. 1, 1935 2,864,317 Robinson Dec. 16, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 463,208 Great Britain Mar. 24, 1937 

1. A PUMPING ARRANGEMENT FOR DEEP WELLS INCLUDING A FIRST CONDUIT MEANS HAVING A LENGTH SUFFICIENT TO EXTEND INTO SUCH A WELL BENEATH THE WATER LEVEL THEREOF AND HAVING AN OPEN END CONSTITUTING AN INLET FOR WATER, A CASING OPERABLY POSITIONED WITH RESPECT TO SUCH A WELL, SAID FIRST CONDUIT MEANS HAVING AN OPPOSITE END COMMUNICATING WITH THE UPPER PART OF SAID CASING, A WATER PUMP HAVING AN INLET COMMUNICATING WITH THE LOWER PART OF SAID CASING AND A DISCHARGE OUTLET, A VACUUM PUMP CARRIED BY SAID CASING AND HAVING AN INLET INCLUDING A PIPE PORTION TERMINATING IN AN OPEN END IN THE UPPER PART OF SAID CASING, SAID VACUUM PUMP HAVING AN OUTLET, A SECOND CONDUIT MEANS EXTENDING FROM THE OUTLET OF THE VACUUM PUMP AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAID FIRST CONDUIT MEANS ADJACENT THE OPEN LOWER END THEREOF, A THIRD CONDUIT MEANS HAVING ONE END IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE PIPE PORTION IN THE UPPER PART OF SAID CASING, SAID THIRD CONDUIT MEANS HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN COMMUNICATING WITH ATMOSPHERE, A VALVE MEANS OPERABLY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID OPENING FOR CONTROLLING FLOW THERETHROUGH, MEANS FOR NORMALLY BIASING SAID VALVE MEANS TO CLOSED POSITION, SAID VALVE MEANS BEING OPERABLE WHEN OPEN TO ADMIT ATMOSPHERIC AIR TO SAID THIRD CONDUIT MEANS, A VALVE BOX MOUNTED ON SAID SECOND CONDUIT MEANS DOWNSTREAM OF THE OUTLET OF THE VACUUM PUMP, SAID SECOND CONDUIT MEANS HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN COMMUNICATING WITH ATMOSPHERE, A SUCTION OPERATED VALVE FOR CONTROLLING SAID OPENING, SAID SUCTION OPERATED VALVE BEING OPERATIVELY RELATED WITH SAID VALVE BOX, MEANS NORMALLY BIASING SAID SUCTION OPERATED VALVE TO OPEN POSITION AND THE OTHER END OF SAID THIRD CONDUIT MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID VALVE BOX FOR EXERTING A SUCTION EFFECT THEREIN TO CLOSE SAID SUCTION OPERATED VALVE, SAID FIRST VALVE OPENING IN RESPONSE TO SUCTION EFFECT IN THE THIRD CONDUIT MEANS THAT IS GREATER THAN THAT NECESSARY TO CLOSE SAID SUCTION OPERATED VALVE WHEREBY WITH BOTH PUMPS OPERATING SAID VACUUM PUMP WITHDRAWS AIR FROM THE UPPER PART OF SAID CASING AND SAID FIRST CONDUIT MEANS AND DISCHARGES THE SAME THROUGH SAID OPENING CONTROLLED BY SAID SUCTION OPERATED VALVE UNTIL SUFFICIENT VACUUM IS EXERTED THROUGH SAID THIRD CONDUIT MEANS TO CLOSE SAID SUCTION-OPERATED VALVE WHEREUPON THE AIR DELIVERED THROUGH THE OUTLET OF THE VACUUM PUMP ADMIXES WITH WATER IN SAID FIRST CONDUIT MEANS, THE WATER-AIR MIXTURE ARISING AND ENTERING THE UPPER PART OF THE CASING WITH THE WATER SEPARATING FROM THE AIR BY GRAVITY AND BEING DISCHARGED BY THE WATER PUMP AND THE AIR ENTERING THE OPEN UPPER END OF SAID PIPE PORTION FOR PASSAGE THROUGH SAID VACUUM PUMP BACK TO SAID FIRST CONDUIT MEANS. 